BREAKING: Tarleton State University has announced that head coach Billy Gillispie is on temporary administrative leave as the school investigates an anonymous complaint. This urgent update was confirmed by the university on Friday, but specifics about the nature of the complaint remain undisclosed.
In the wake of this investigation, associate head coach Glynn Cyprien has stepped in as acting head coach. The university has not provided a timeline for the investigation, leaving fans and players in uncertainty about Gillispie’s future with the program.
Gillispie, now 65 years old, has a history of controversy, facing allegations of player mistreatment during his previous tenure at Texas Tech from 2011 to 2012. He resigned from the Red Raiders citing health concerns just a month after the university announced an investigation into claims made by players about their treatment under his coaching.
His coaching style has raised eyebrows at other institutions as well. In 2009, he was fired from Kentucky after the athletic director stated that Gillispie “wasn’t the right fit for the program.” Following his dismissal, a $3 million settlement was reached.
Currently, Gillispie is in his sixth season at Tarleton State, marking the longest tenure of his five Division I head coaching stints, which also include positions at UTEP and Texas A&M. His record stands at 78-74 with the Texans, including an impressive 25-10 record for the 2023-24 season along with a College Insider Tournament (CIT) appearance. Overall, he has amassed a coaching record of 226-182 over 13 seasons, including four NCAA tournament appearances.
As the investigation unfolds, the Tarleton State community watches closely. The university has kept a tight lid on further comments, intensifying the urgency surrounding Gillispie’s future. Fans and players alike are left wondering what this means for the team’s trajectory in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
